Sainsbury’s targets supply chain with sustainability plan

Sainsbury’s has set out £1 billion sustainability plan which involves targeting the carbon footprints of companies in its supply chain.

The Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan sets out 20 sustainability targets to be achieved by 2020.

It plans to roll out a supplier carbon efficiency programme and establish supplier forums to enable collaborative working and to share best practice.

In addition, it said it would improve the carbon footprint of its primary agricultural supply chains by working with grower and agricultural groups.

And, it said: “We will continue to measure and assess carbon emissions from our own brand products and use this knowledge to advise our suppliers about future reductions.”

Anna Ford

Anna Ford chair of Sainsbury’s corporate responsibility committee, said: “We’ll seek higher standards from our suppliers. We’ll actively promote and drive sales of products with the highest health, environment and social standards…‘20 by 20’ will bring about a step change in the way we manage our business, securing its future.”

It plans to reduces its operational carbon emissions by 30 per cent in absolute terms by 2020, and has broader target of an absolute carbon reduction of 50 per cent by 2030.

It is also looking at ways of reducing packaging further. It said that it had cut packaging levels by 12m kilos over the past year.

It is working on innovations such as milk bags and is committed to the Courtauld Commitment phase I and II, a voluntary agreement with WRAP to improve resource efficiency and reduce the carbon and wider environmental impact of grocery retail. It is currently working with WRAP towards Courtauld III.